We’ve begun reading through the Bible together at our church. As we made our way through Exodus, it struck us how impatient and even irritated we could be toward the Israelites as they made their way through the wilderness. Most of us struggled with understanding how a group of people, who are meant to beContinueContinue reading “Embracing Grace: Trust”
Author Archives: Shelley Linn Johnson
Embracing Grace: Seasons
I grew up near the coast of Texas, so my experience of shifting seasons was limited – more of a change in calendar than weather or landscape or apparel. We basically went from hot to really hot to a little cooler. The grass and Live Oak trees stayed green year-round, so I didn’t fully understandContinueContinue reading “Embracing Grace: Seasons”
Embracing Grace: Growth
Weeks ago, I began this series knowing ‘grace’ as God’s unmerited favor that opens the door to a life in Christ by our assent, by our believing – that moment of justification. I also had some understanding of ‘grace’ as our source for growing in our faith. But I must admit that trying to understandContinueContinue reading “Embracing Grace: Growth”
Embracing Grace: Forgiveness
I have loved the disciple Peter for a long time and for so many reasons. His passion. His devotion. His authentic way of engaging with the people around him. His dedication to leadership. His willingness to step out in faith, to speak up when no one else would. We get glimpses of Peter throughout theContinueContinue reading “Embracing Grace: Forgiveness”
Embracing Grace: Hope
Have you ever noticed how despair boxes us in? When we’re struggling with emotions of despondency, our focus narrows until all we see is the problem, the person, the same old pattern over and over again. The sense of being trapped, of feeling unable to change or break free, pushes us toward panic or hopelessContinueContinue reading “Embracing Grace: Hope”
Embracing Grace: Suffering
So many of us hear the word ‘theology’ and respond with glazing eyes – or rising hackles. We think ‘theology’ is only for those religious academics who aren’t afraid to think like philosophers or that ‘theology’ is the weapon of choice for those in spiritual authority over us. As one who has not been trainedContinueContinue reading “Embracing Grace: Suffering”
Embracing Grace: Wisdom
There’s a big difference between having information and living with wisdom. Here’s a simple case to consider: a person has a detailed recipe for baking croissants. She has read the list of ingredients as well as the directions; she has the information. But this person is not in the practice of measuring precisely or followingContinueContinue reading “Embracing Grace: Wisdom”
Embracing Grace: Obedience
I’ve been wrestling. Really wrestling – for a while now. Maybe something akin to the circular analysis of the chicken-and-egg metaphor. Which comes first – obedience or spiritual growth? Maybe because I’m human, and specifically an American human, I’ve had to wrestle more than I felt should be necessary. But laying pride aside, I’ve dugContinueContinue reading “Embracing Grace: Obedience”
Embracing Grace: This.
Two decades ago. That’s when I first heard God’s grace compared to the manna of the wilderness-wandering Israelites.1 Daily. God-given. Enough. Yet, God’s people had to get out of their tents to gather it. By faith, they had to trust that what God provided would fill all their needs. Since first hearing this comparison, IContinueContinue reading “Embracing Grace: This.”
Embrace Worship: Holy, Holy, Holy
As we come to the close of our summer series on worship, I’d love to end where we began and with what has tied every facet of worship together: holiness. We know that God alone is inherently holy, a trait that is near impossible to define because it is so rare and absolutely unattainable byContinueContinue reading “Embrace Worship: Holy, Holy, Holy”